Man Held in 1970 Death of Infant

The father of a Los Angeles infant who died in 1970 has been arrested on suspicion of murder and is in custody in Albuquerque, police said Wednesday.

Lee Roy Montoya wore “an expression on his face that was a little surprised and shocked” when officers went to interview him last week, said LAPD Det. Chris Merlo, who, with his partner, Det. Dan Garcia, reopened the case a few months ago.

Police suspect that Montoya beat his son to death before fleeing California. One-year-old Jeffrey Leroy Montoya died at Harbor General Hospital.

Montoya, who police believe is in his 50s, was found as part of a push by the Los Angeles Police Department to solve more old cases, also known as “cold cases,” often by using improved technology.

In November, the department established the citywide Cold Case Homicide Unit. It is reviewing all unsolved homicides to see if they can be solved.

At the Harbor Division, where a separate, less formal effort has been underway, 63% fewer homicides last year than in 2000 allowed detectives more time for the older cases.

Merlo said that as he and Garcia began sorting through the Harbor Division’s old files, the Montoya case jumped out.

“It was particularly catching to both my partner and me, I guess because we both have little kids,” Merlo said.

Jeffrey Montoya had been brought by his parents to Harbor General with bruises. They said he had fallen. But by the time a coroner’s report was issued contradicting their account--the death was found to be a homicide--both parents had left the state, Capt. Andrew Smith said.

Using databases not available 32 years ago, Merlo and Garcia found the parents, now divorced, in Albuquerque.

After interviewing them, they asked local police to make an arrest. Montoya was apprehended at his home Jan. 24.

He is expected to be extradited to California.

Merlo said the boy’s mother, who was not arrested and does not face charges, helped detectives find Montoya.

Merlo, 31, who was not born when Jeffrey Montoya died, said old cases can be difficult, but time can also be an investigator’s friend.

“Sometimes,” he said, “people are more cooperative after years of guilt or discomfort.”

In the case of the mother, “32 years of thinking about it certainly helped.”